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Victory Over the Enemies of Zion

A song of ascents.[a]

129 “Too often[b] they have attacked me from my youth.”
Let Israel say,
“Too often[c] they have attacked me from my youth,
yet they have not prevailed against me.
On my back plowmen have plowed.
They have made their furrows[d] long.”
Yahweh is righteous.
He has cut the ropes[e] of the wicked.
Let all be put to shame and repulsed
who hate Zion.
Let them be like grass on the housetops,
that withers before it grows up,
with which a reaper cannot fill his hand,
nor the binder of sheaves his arms,[f]
so that passersby do not say,
“The blessing of Yahweh be upon you.
We bless you in the name of Yahweh.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 129:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 129:1 Or “Greatly”
  3. Psalm 129:2 Or “Greatly”
  4. Psalm 129:3 According to the reading tradition (Qere)
  5. Psalm 129:4 That is, the yoke and tackle on a beast of burden
  6. Psalm 129:7 Literally “bosom”

A Song of Ascents

God Defeats Israel’s Enemies

129 “Since my youth they have often persecuted me,”
    let Israel repeat it,
“Since my youth they have often persecuted me,
    yet they haven’t defeated me.
Wicked people[a] plowed over my back,
    creating long-lasting wounds.”[b]

The Lord is righteous—
    he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.

Let all who hate Zion
    be turned away and be ashamed.
May they become like a tuft of grass on a roof top,
    that withers before it takes root—
not enough to fill one’s hand
    or to bundle in one’s arms.
And may those who pass by never tell them,
    “May the Lord’s blessing be upon you.
        We bless you in the name of the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 129:3 So LXX DSS 11QPsa; MT reads The ploughman
  2. Psalm 129:3 Or long furrows; LXX reads back; they prolonged their lawlessness